Lone Muscovy duckling, should I help it?

[MangoDuck]

Hey everyone! So, I was out yesterday, and I saw a malnourished looking Muscovy duckling. He had the feathering of a month and a half old duck, but he was the size of a three week old. I looked around for a mom, or some siblings, but I didn’t see anyone with his colouring (he’s light grey, the rest of the flock is brown).
I was wondering if it would be okay to catch him (he’s really friendly, he’ll walk right up to me and eat from my hand), keep him for a week or two until he can fend for himself a little better and then return him to the lake that he’s at right now?
I’m in Florida, and I’ve heard a lot of different things on websites and articles about catching and releasing Muscovy ducks. I’m not doing this because I want a cool pet, I already have two lovely ducks, I just want to help him.
If anyone has any advice that would be extremely appreciated! Thanks in advance

 

[nchls school]

Hey everyone! So, I was out yesterday, and I saw a malnourished looking Muscovy duckling. He had the feathering of a month and a half old duck, but he was the size of a three week old. I looked around for a mom, or some siblings, but I didn’t see anyone with his colouring (he’s light grey, the rest of the flock is brown).
I was wondering if it would be okay to catch him (he’s really friendly, he’ll walk right up to me and eat from my hand), keep him for a week or two until he can fend for himself a little better and then return him to the lake that he’s at right now?
I’m in Florida, and I’ve heard a lot of different things on websites and articles about catching and releasing Muscovy ducks. I’m not doing this because I want a cool pet, I already have two lovely ducks, I just want to help him.
If anyone has any advice that would be extremely appreciated! Thanks in advance

A lake setting would provide plenty or food for a muscovy, so there's likely something else wrong; genetic or disease. Should you take on the job with this duckling, keep it away from your ducks. I do not know the laws and regulations there, or if this is a domestic or wild muscovy. Personally, I would take it home... and if wild, to be released later.

 

[MangoDuck]

A lake setting would provide plenty or food for a muscovy, so there's likely something else wrong; genetic or disease. Should you take on the job with this duckling, keep it away from your ducks. I do not know the laws and regulations there, or if this is a domestic or wild muscovy. Personally, I would take it home... and if wild, to be released later.

Thank you for the advice! The only reason I think it might not be genetic is because there are lots of turtles (and possibly alligators) in the lake that might be scaring it away? We’ve seen lots of adult ducks with injured/missing feet that we think were
caused by turtles. Also, we are constantly seeing him get chased away from food by the adult ducks.
It could definitely be a genetic issue or a disease though!

 

[RosemaryDuck]

If you decide to take in the Muscovy, you cannot release him afterwards. In Florida they are highly invasive and you are not allowed to move them or release them anywhere.

So he would have to be a permanent pet or you would have to rehome him after he recovers. Best of luck!

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/birds/waterfowl/muscovy-duck/

 

[ruthhope]

Where in Florida are you? As has been written above, it is illegal in Florida to release to the wild. I have rescued muscovy that I have kept : my flock is all rescued drakes (not just muscovy). I have rehomed a muscovy female with my sons pekin flock. Although the pekin drake doesnt like her, she gets on well with the females, and his rooster.

I also rehomed 8 muscovy recently to a private lake: the whole 10 acre lake is on 16 acres of land owned by one person. That is the only legal way to release a wild muscovy onto a private pond/ lake on private land.

There is a muscovy sanctuary near Miami: the woman only takes in muscovy until she can rehome them privately. She needs financial support, by the way, if you take a muscovy to her.

You can tell from my response that I personally would rescue that little one. Being so small and so friendly is not usual and being a different color from the others is odd. I would quarantine the duckling from my own flock and get it better nourished. I would then try and find a backyard duck keeper to take the now healthy juvenile. If is female, you would likely find a new home for her. Round where I am, muscovy females are liked by back yard duck keepers because they are quiet. If it is male, you would be best to contact a local wildlife rehabber, the local chapter of th ASPCA, and the humane society to help you find a new home as few people want drakes. Or like me, keep him yourself.

But first, do rescue that little one as it is not old enough to survive on its own in the wild!

Good luck and update us on its status, please!

 

[MangoDuck]

Where in Florida are you? As has been written above, it is illegal in Florida to release to the wild. I have rescued muscovy that I have kept : my flock is all rescued drakes (not just muscovy). I have rehomed a muscovy female with my sons pekin flock. Although the pekin drake doesnt like her, she gets on well with the females, and his rooster.

I also rehomed 8 muscovy recently to a private lake: the whole 10 acre lake is on 16 acres of land owned by one person. That is the only legal way to release a wild muscovy onto a private pond/ lake on private land.

There is a muscovy sanctuary near Miami: the woman only takes in muscovy until she can rehome them privately. She needs financial support, by the way, if you take a muscovy to her.

You can tell from my response that I personally would rescue that little one. Being so small and so friendly is not usual and being a different color from the others is odd. I would quarantine the duckling from my own flock and get it better nourished. I would then try and find a backyard duck keeper to take the now healthy juvenile. If is female, you would likely find a new home for her. Round where I am, muscovy females are liked by back yard duck keepers because they are quiet. If it is male, you would be best to contact a local wildlife rehabber, the local chapter of th ASPCA, and the humane society to help you find a new home as few people want drakes. Or like me, keep him yourself.

But first, do rescue that little one as it is not old enough to survive on its own in the wild!

Good luck and update us on its status, please!

Thank you for all this information. We went back today to look for him and couldn’t find him anywhere. I’m afraid that in the last day he might have been taken by a predator or maybe even killed by one of the other ducks. We will go back tomorrow to see if we can find him, but I think we were a day too late ):

 

[Her majesty]

Hey everyone! So, I was out yesterday, and I saw a malnourished looking Muscovy duckling. He had the feathering of a month and a half old duck, but he was the size of a three week old. I looked around for a mom, or some siblings, but I didn’t see anyone with his colouring (he’s light grey, the rest of the flock is brown).
I was wondering if it would be okay to catch him (he’s really friendly, he’ll walk right up to me and eat from my hand), keep him for a week or two until he can fend for himself a little better and then return him to the lake that he’s at right now?
I’m in Florida, and I’ve heard a lot of different things on websites and articles about catching and releasing Muscovy ducks. I’m not doing this because I want a cool pet, I already have two lovely ducks, I just want to help him.
If anyone has any advice that would be extremely appreciated! Thanks in advance

 

[Her majesty]

Same. 3 weeks ago mom left one on her back in the dirt. It couldn't keep up and kept falling over on it's back. She left with 17 others. So.."Her Majesty" has been well cared for BUT..we have been desperately trying to find a rehab and in S FL because they are considered non native and that has proven difficult. We called one and they said that it would be euthanized. Wasn't an option for me. I am just concerned as I want her to have a duck life...and I do not know how to transition this youngin. Ughh

 

[ruthhope]

@Her majesty Thank you for rescuing that little life.

There is a muscovy sanctuary in a neighborhood near Miami. The woman there has them all in her yard and often appeals for funds for feeding her muscovy. I'll see if I can find the information

 

[Miss Lydia]

heres one for duck haven in south fla. 954 -979-5044 Muscovy rescue